Letters from George Alexander Hugh Murray to his family, 1918 - Part 1

France
14-1-18
Dear Het
Mail has been coming
very irregularly none
to speak of till yesterday
when I received five from
home one from Les & you    
& today I got the parcel 
you sent from Everton
No Christmas mail or
parcels to speak of so they
must have gone to the
bottom
Last night there was a
fall of snow but the
weather is not near as
cold as it was last 

2. 

year. There has been plenty
of snow but no rain to
speak of before this reaches
you I shall have a turn
in the line again. The last
by all accounts for some
time for there is a strong
rumour of a move but there
has been rumours for the
last twelve months & they
have come to naught
Lena ought to know the
result of her exams by
now. I suppose she will
leave the hospital if she
passes & have a shot
over here.
A terrible lot of the Warrack
boys have given their lives 

There are two Warrack chaps 
in the same Coy as I am
They come from "Home
Scott" towards Donald.
Lights/out has gone so I must
shut up goodnight"
Your loving Brother
George.

Belgium
24-1-18
Dear Het
I received your ever
welcome letter this evening
and am having a shot at
answering it before I turn
in for the night but what
to say I have not the slightest
idea for things in general
are the same day after
day
So far I have not received
any of the Christmas parcels
that were sent but they
may come along before
long. I never had a
letter from home by todays 

 2
mail.
So far I have not had a
note from Mr. Rogash I
was surprised to hear that
his son was killed for I
only saw him a few days
prior to notice of his
death
By your accounts of the
crops about home they are
of the best.
Lena will know the result
of her exams by now &
so will Lol. I hope they
both passed.
Well I have little to say so
will close. Have just
written home
Your loving Brother
George. 

Belgium
9-2-1918
Dear Louis
I received your ever welcome
letter just as I was about to
go into the front line & I had to
put off answering it till I came
back, again I am back none the
worse for the spin in the line only I
have a very bad cold not a bad
weather one I think but a gas one of
which there was plenty about.
By the letters from home, a lot of
the local boys are lying down
their lives in this country for one
I got had eleven names in it
A terrible lot for a small town
a couple of days ago I met Dick
Bourdale. He is in the 8^th with
Lt Col Mitchell. It was the first
time I had seen him since he 

2
left with the first batch for the camp so
long ago but he looks none the worse
So for he has had a very good spin.
There must be some lovely crops
about home this year. Different from
this country for it is the worst they
have had for many years so it
will tell on the poor people
I just received letters from Het &
Lena so I must try & give them
a line or two apiece.
These last few days has been very
cold but not wet thank goodness.
I have not seen nor heard from Les
for a long time now, but I drop him
a line now & then but got no reply
Well I will close this short letter
hoping you are all well
I am your loving Brother
George. 

Belgium
9-2-1918
Dear Lena
I received your ever welcome
letter some time ago & put
of answering it for I have so
little to say. By all accounts
you are having plenty of work
to do patients in galore but you
had a spell of them when you
went for your exams. How did
you get on
Some chaps can swing the lead
properly even get home on it, or
staying in England for the duration
of the war but not so me. I am a
poor hand at telling doctors tales
By the letters from home a terrible
lot of the local boys have laid
down their lives So many from 

from so small a town but it is the
fortune of war. Some have to go or the
war would go on for ever. It looks
much like it at present, but it
may collapse all at once. Lets
hope it does & the sooner the better
I have just received a letter
from Het saying that she applied
for two extra days leave but
was not granted it.
It is very cold now. Cold winds but
no rain thank Goodness. I have not
seen Les for some time
Well I have little to say so I will say
Au Revoir hoping you are well
Your loving Brother
George. 

Belgium
26.2-1918
Dear Lena
I have been putting off writing from day
to day for I have not in been in the humour
for letter writing for I have been far from
well all through the Germans It is their
fault & no one elses for if he would
keep his gas skills to himself I would
have been alright but no he had to
throw some thousands over & I had
my share of the contents. Took my
voice away gave me a bad cold &
a severe cough I having have been going
to the doctor for treatment but it seems
to do me very little good.
I wrote to Les again tonight Cannot
get word of him any way nor can
I find out where he is camped.
Of late I have been getting a lot of 
Warrack Papers Well there are
a few Warrack boys in the fallen